Combined switch and circuit breaker



Nov. 85 i932. w. s. MAYER 1,887,274

COMBINED SWITCH AND CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Aug. 19. 1925 2 Sheets-Sheei l IIA INVENTOR. M/lierge' BYMM ATTORNEY.'.

Nw0 s, 1932,y w. s. MME@ 1,887,274

COMBINED SWITCH AND CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Aug. 19, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l .5' Q 7 [NVE TOR.

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/ TTORNE Y.

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Patented Nova 8, 1932 4UNED STATES PATENT @FFE'CE WALTER S. MAYBE- 0F PHXIADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANA COMBINED SWTCH AND CRCUXT BREKK appncanoa area august' ie, i925. semi ne. einen,

5 of the line; hence there is no danger of caus-` ing a short circuit by contact with the switchlng mechanism, and eitherelectrode may be the anode ot the device connected with the live line or generator or the cathode ol the device 'connected with the ydead line or load.

lin the preferred embodiment of my invention, a plurality of electrodes, adapted for connection respectively with the live line and load line of the circuit, are spanned by reciprocable switching mechanism operable by a toggle and normally held in contact with brushes or seats of the electrodes by latching mechanism, which is released by the thrust oi3 an electro-magnetic armature operable by s@ the iiow of abnormal current to permit disvice are inclosed.

engagement of the switch blade or conductor from the electrode brushes by spring y mechanism. When normal conditionsin the circuit are restored, the switch blade may be again reengaged with the electrode brushes through the toggle mechanism, which is operable by a handle preferably of the tumbler or push button type, projecting from a housing in which the conducting parts of the departs of the mechanism are. so disposed Within the housing that they preferably have their longitudinal median planes normal to the base coincident with one another and with the longitudinal median plane of the hous- 5g symmetrical inform, and substantially all The several operating' the metallic parts thereof may be made from sheet metal stampings or screw machine parts; the brushes through which the switch and electrodes are connected being preferably interchangeable and readily replaceable ywhen pitted by arcing.,

The characteristic teatures and advantages ,of my improvements will urther appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings in illustration ot prefered embodiments of my invention.

In the drawings, Fig.. l is a longitudinal sectional view of apparatus embodying 'my improvement; the' section o the housing cover being taken on the line @F ot Fig. 2

vand the section of the housing base and its l connected parts being taken on the line AB CD EF of Fig. 2; Fig. 2 is a iront elevation of the device shown in Fig, l, with the cover removed and parts sectioned along the line PL of Fig. l Jfor clearer illustration; Figc 3 is a longitudinal sectional View of the' device shown in Figs. l and 2, the section through the housing cover being taken along' the line OF of Fig. 2 and the section through the housing base and its connected parte being taken along the line GH CD J oil Fig. 2; Fig. Llis a transverse sectional View of the device shown in the preceding figures talren along the line KL MN ot Fig. l; Fig.; 5 is a part sectional side elevation of my im proved device illustrating a modified form of switch operating mechanism; Fig. f5 is QR STU of Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a part sectional side elevation similar to that shown in Fig 5 but with the switch disengaged from the electrodes and with parts broken away for clearer illustration; and Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view illustrating the operation of the switch toggle by push buttons and the enclosure 01"' the device in a Wall box.

As illustrated in the drawings, a symmetri` cal housing base l, preferably molded from non-conducting material, contains a median chamber 2 endend channels 8 separated from the chamber 2 byy insulating spacers or barriers 4. Diagonally opposite grooves 5 and i transverse sectional View taken along the line diagonally opposite bores` 6,l extending through the base composition, atord ingress the base to the channels 3 for line wires of the circuit to be controlled.

The base may be seated in a usual wallbox or attached to a panel, switch board, or other foundation by passing bolts o1 screws through countersunk apertures 7 formed in parallel with the bores 6. A symmetrical ousing cover 8 may be fastened to the base with its edge 9 in the rabbet 10 along the outer edge of the base by means of diagonally opposite bolts 11 passing through countersunk cover slots 12 and countersunk base slots 13 into engagement with .nuts 14 seated in the base.

- have expanded heads 2() for engaging the 'line wires against the faces 21 of the posts.

lBosses 22, projecting upward. from the channel 2, are counterbored to provide abut-- ments for the shoulders of electrode posts 23, 23' dis d in apertures 24 having their axes su antially coincident with the longitudinal plane *-F normal to the base.

The electrode posts 23 contain threaded sockets for the Yreception of threaded shanks of detachable brushes or switch seats 24, having heads overlying the post 23 and bosses 2 2. A plate 25, held by a nut 26 on the post 15, electrically connects it with the electrode 23. The post and electrode 23 have connected therewith the opposite ends of a solenoid coil 27 wound upon-a core 28 ixed inthe end web 29 of a paramagnetic housing or ca 30. VThis cage has its-fluxconducting si es 31 bent at right angles to the web 29 and provided with ears 32 attached to the bottom of the chamber 2. Apertured lugs 33 on the cage 30 have pivotcd therein a flanged amature 34 having a knuckle extension 35 containing an e e for the engagement ofa coiled spring 36, t e opposite end ofthe spring being anchored on an adjustable screw 37 threaded inl a lug 38 on one of the guide ways or extensions 39 projcctingfrom the side members 30 in planes normal to the base and parallel to the plane The guide ways 39 contain slots 40 and support a pintle 41 having thereon bushings 42 to .which are fixed coiled springs 43 having'.

their opposite ends fixed on bushings 44 on the pintle 45 of switching mechanism for electrically connecting the seats 24.

The switching mechanism comprises a stamped out skeleton blade Spanner or bridge 46 having oppositely bent lugs 47 and 48,

and end apertures in which are secured the Shanks of contact brushes 50 secured in place by nuts 51 screwed onthe shanks. The parts Contact screws 24 and 50 vare similar screw machine parts and interchangeable.

The lugs 47 are engaged on the pintle 45, A

which projects therefrom into the slots 40, and the lugs 48 have Xed therein shouldered rivets 49. projecting into the slots 40 to guide the blade or bridge 46.

As illustrated in Figs.. 1 to 4 of the drawings, a tumbler handle 52 is journalled on the pintle 41 between the bushings 42, and has a finger piece 53 projecting through the housing aperture 54 which is closed by a flange 55 in either position of the iin-ger piece. The flange also limits the movement of the handle light spring 60, wound on the pintle 58 and having a loo-p engaging the link 57, tends to normally straighten the toggle formed by the link 57 and the adjacent arm of the trigger 59. The free arm of theA trigger 59 has a curved head disposed adjacent to the flange of the armature 34 and operable thereby to break the toggle and release the switch blade when the armature 34 is attracted by the magnet 27.

As illustrated in Figs. 5, 6, and 7, a tumbler handle 60 is journalled on the pintle 41 outside the guide ways 39 and comprises a yoke moulded in a non-conducting linger piece projecting through the housing Vaperture 54,

4which is closed by flanges 61 in either position of the handle. The flanges 61 limit the movement of the handle by engaging the guides 39.

Arms 62 of the handle yoke have pivoted thereto the links 63 having their ends ccnnected by a pintle 64 on which is journalled a U-'shaped member or yoke 65 whose legs are engaged in the slots 41 to prevent the turn- Y ing of the yoke.

A bell crank shaped trigger .66, pivoted on thepintle 64, has an inclined face 67 causing the deflection of the trigger when brought into engagement with a roller on the pintle 45 to permit the engagement of this roller yby the trigger tooth 68. The trigger is normally pressed so that its tooth will engage the pintle 45 by a spring 69 wound on the pintle lll lll

64, the rotary movement of the trigger in either direction being limited by the cross member of the yoke 65. l

The free arm of the trigger has a curved head disposed adjacent to the flange of the armature 34 and operable thereby to disengage the tooth 68 from the pintle 45 anl release the switch when the armature is attracted by the magnet 27.

As illustrated in Fig. 8, the link 70, corresponding either to the link 57 or to the link 63, is pivotally connected'with a lever 71 'ournalled on the pintle 41 and having a stop 2 engaging the guideways 39. Push buttons 73 are pivotally connected with the laterally dll extending arms of the lever 7l and project through the apertures 54 of the cover 8 and vthrough registering apertures of a face plate 74 covering the wall box 75 in which the device is housed.

The devices described when mounted `in a box, on a switch board or elsewhere may have their binding posts 15, l5 connected with the circuit by wires introduced from the front of the housing through the grooves 5 or from the rear of the housing through the bores 6, as convenience may dictate. rl`he line wire of the circuit may be connected with either binding post l5 or i5 and the turns and thickness et the solenoid winding are so proportioned that the armature 34 is not operated when normal current llows. But should abnormal current ilow, the armature 34 is attracted to the solenoid 27 and rocks the trigger 59 or the trigger GG to release the` Spanner 46.

ln the construction illustrated in Figs. l to ll, the kick of the trigger 59 may break the toggle connecting the handle 52 and the switching mechanism or may, without breaking the toggle, throw the handle from its position shown in Fig. l over dead center to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4. n-

cither event, the switch blade 46 is instantly lifted roml its seat by its springs 43 and the circuit is broken; the switch blade being fully disconnected from the source or power and from the load. lill hen the toggle connecting the handle and switching mechanism is broken by the kick oit the trigger .59., the upward movement ot the switching mechanism brings the curved head oit the trigger into forceful contact with pivoted member 52 at one side oit a radius drawn from the pintle l to the pivot connecting the link 57 with the member 52. rlhis. blow and the action of` the spring 60 tending to straighten the toggle normally rotates member 52 so that the finger piece thereof is thrown to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 8. To reestablish the circuit, the tumbler 53 is manually thrown to the dotted line position ot Fig. 3, if it has not been so thrown electrically, to straighten the toggle, which when operated by returning the tumbler 53 to its full line position (Fig. il) depresses the switch into engagement with its seat. Should the abnormal conditions not have abated, the circuit is again immediately broken as before described.

ln the construction illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7, the kick ot the trigger 66 disengages the tooth 68 trom the pintle 45 and the switch spanner L16 is immediately lifted by its springs i3 away from the brushes 34. To reengage the switching mechanism against its seat, the finger piece of the handle 60 is thrown to its dotted line position (Fig. 7), which lifts the pintle 64 and trigger 66 and snaps the trigger tooth 68 over the pintle 45.

By throwing the linger piece to the full line i position (Fig. 7), the 'pint-le 64 will be moved toward the base, carrying with it the switch blade or bridge 46' into contact with the electrodes. 'If conditions remain abnormal, the

trigger will be again tripped by the armature flange as above described. But if conditions have been restored to normal, the pintle G4 and switch mechanism connected therewith by the trigger G6 are held in position by the toggle members G2, 63 which. are beyond dead center position. y

When it is desired to operate the switching mechanism of Figs. l to l or of Figs. 5 to 7 by push buttons instead of tumblers, the toggle members are connected with such buttons as shown in Fig. 8.

The bridge or Spanner 46 may be operated manually to break, as well as to make the cir'- cuit, by manipulating the tumblei's or switch buttons.

Having described my invention, I claim:

l. A switch and circuit breaker comprising a plurality of spaced contacts, switching mechanism normally biased away from both said contacts andincluding a rectilinearly movable blade adapted for bridging said contacts, means for moving said blade toward said contacts and including a toggle positioned adjacent to a section ot said blade intermediate the endsr thereof when the latter is in closed position, and a current responsive device for breaking said toggle and releasing saidV blade upon the iiow of an abnormal current.

2. An automatic circuit breaker as set forth in the next preceding claim wherein a finger piece is connected with an end of said toggle and oscillatable on an axis substantially in alignment withsaid toggle when straightened.

3. A switch and circuit breaker comprising a plurality of spaced contacts; a conducting blade normally biased away from both said lontacts and adapted for bridging the same, means for moving said blade toward said contacts and 'including a toggle, a rectilinearly reciprocable member connected with an end of said toggle, a guide for said meinber disposed approximately equidistantly from said contacts; and means for releasing said blade from said contacts and includ-ing an arm ulcrumed on said member and a current responsive device for operating said arm..

li. A switch and circuit breaker comprising a plurality of spaced contacts, a switch -blade normally biased away from said contacts and adapted for bridging the same, means for moving said. blade toward said I contacts and including a toggle disposed between the ends of said switch blade when the latter is closed, said blade containing an opening for the passage ot said toggletherevthrough upon the movement of said blade toward and from said contacts, and a current .responsive device ,for breaking said toggle and releasing said blade from said contacts.

5. A switch and circuit breaker comprising a pair of guides, a pair of contacts on the opposite sides of said guides, an oscillatory device between said guides, a toggle having a'link'connected with said device and a bell crank connected with said link, a slide movable along said guides and pivotally connected with said bell crank, a switch blade carried by said slide and adapted for bridging said contacts, said blade being normally Ibiased away from said contacts, and a current responsive device engaging said bell crank to break said toggle and throw said oscillatory device upon an abnormal current flow through said blades.

- 6. A switch and circuit breaker comprising a plurality o`c'ontacts, an apertured switch blade normally biased to open position but movable to closed' position to close a circuit between said contacts, a toggle passing through the aperture of said switch blade and having one end connected with said switch blade, an oscillating device connected with the -other end of said toggle and pro- Y vce, and means for manually operating said yvided with a finger piece for operating said toggle and blade, and a current responsive device for breaking said toggle and permitting the opening of said blade.

7. A switch and circuit breaker comprising an electromagnetic coil, contacts adjacent Ito the opposite ends of said coil, a rectilinearly reciprocable switch blade spanning said coil and bridging said contacts, said switchbladebeing normally `biased away from said contacts, guides projecting laterally from said coil between the ends thereof and guiding said blade, a toggle connected withv said blade, means for operating said toggle to move said switch toward said contacts, and an armature operable by said coil for breaking said,toggle`and permitting .movement of said switch away from said contacts. l

8. A circuit controller comprising a cage-of substantially U-shaped longitudinal section, an 'electro-magnetic device between the legs of said cage, an armature pivotally connected with the legs of said cage and operable by said device, said cage having guideways proleettng therefrom, a switching device guided y said guideways, electrodes connected by said switching device, trigger mechanism carried by said cage and controlled by said armature for controlling said switchingde-l v ice,'\spring mechanism for operating said dedevice.

' electrodes in said housing on opposite sides of sald magnet, a switch blade movable as a unit toward and from said electrodes on a ture operable by said electro-magnet for unl latching saidv switch blade.

10. A circuit controller including' a base -forming a longitudinal chamber, a barrier located at each end of said chamber, a. bolt extending through each of said barriers, arms `projecting from said chamber, spring actuated mechanism disposed between said arms and adapted to operate a switch blade to close a circuit between said bolts, and electro-magnetic means disposed in said chamber for controlling said spring actuated mechanism.

11. An automatic circuit breaker comprising in combination, an insulating support, two stationary spaced armsextending from the support, two stationary spaced electric contacts carried by the sup rt, a contact member 'uided in a. fixed rectilinear path determine by the said arms and carrying two connected electric contacts adapted-to respectively engage and d'sengage the two stationary contacts, a spring tendine to move the i contact member to circuit breaking position,

a manually operable actuating member pivotall mounted on the arms, and a bodily movab e electro-responsively releasable mechanical connection between the actuatingmember and the contact member enabling the former to effect the movement of the latter to open or close the circuit, the said mechanical connection being automatically released' upon the passage of excess current to release the contact member from the actuating member and thus permit the said contact member to automaticall moveto 'its open-circuit position indepen ently of the actuating mem-v ber.

12. In a switch, the combination of a contact arm opening and closing the switch by its movement; a spring operating the arm to open the switch; a control lever; a latch on the arm between the control lever and the arm locking them to swing together against the spring; and electrically responsive means trippng said latch.r f

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name this 13 day of August 1925.

' WALTER S. MAYER. 

